EMRA2EMRA
EMRA is an adaptation of the Arabic word aimra´a, which means woman, specifically from its phonetic transcription <mra>, which is almost identical to the Spanish word hembra “embra”.
EMRA therefore refers to hembra (female) in its most natural sense, as the female gender of the human being, and consequently, to women and femininity in its most global meaning. But what does being a woman and being feminine mean in the contemporary era? Far from the established meanings in our past Western culture, which are associated with specific roles and bodies, EMRA aims to open up the concept of “woman” to be constructed and deconstructed.
EMRA2EMRA seeks to represent the connections, relationships, and transactions that occur between women in a concept akin to B2B—in this case, from woman to woman. EMRA aims for women to be the ones to create value among ourselves.
WHAT DO WE DO?
We elevate the value of the artisanal and high-quality work of millions of women around the world. By connecting the work of women with other women, we weave a network of support among us. The combination of the best materials and the finest artisanal techniques, in service of contemporary design functionality and through artistic intervention, results in exclusive, high-quality products, creating a luxury model based on sustainability.
Our current key areas of work include:
- Curation of Exhibitions.
- Production, Publication, and Editing of Research on Art and Craft.
- Production and Commercialization of Contemporary Art/Utility Objects/Fashion Created in Collaboration with Artisan Communities.
- Organization of Outreach and Educational Workshops.
WHAT DO WE DO?
We elevate the value of the artisanal and high-quality work of millions of women around the world. By connecting the work of women with other women, we weave a network of support among us. The combination of the best materials and the finest artisanal techniques, in service of contemporary design functionality and through artistic intervention, results in exclusive, high-quality products, creating a luxury model based on sustainability.
Our current key areas of work include:
- Curation of Exhibitions.
- Production, Publication, and Editing of Research on Art and Craft.
- Production and Commercialization of Contemporary Art/Utility Objects/Fashion Created in Collaboration with Artisan Communities.
- Organization of Outreach and Educational Workshops.
how do we do it?
EMRA was born with the mission of being a collaborative project among women. Artistic interventions in ancestral traditions create a new appreciation of the knowledge and craftsmanship of women artisans worldwide. Collaborative encounters between artists and women’s communities from distant parts of the world weave a support network among them.
Our community is made up of women from around the world, inspired by values such as ecology and feminism. Our products are created from 100% natural materials. These women, with interests in art, design, conscious and responsible consumption, and beauty, act as consumers and therefore patrons of artists and artisans from all over the world. Through the purchase of these pieces, they make possible the economic autonomy and real freedom of other women.
how do we do it?
EMRA was born with the mission of being a collaborative project among women. Artistic interventions in ancestral traditions create a new appreciation of the knowledge and craftsmanship of women artisans worldwide. Collaborative encounters between artists and women’s communities from distant parts of the world weave a support network among them.
Our community is made up of women from around the world, inspired by values such as ecology and feminism. Our products are created from 100% natural materials. These women, with interests in art, design, conscious and responsible consumption, and beauty, act as consumers and therefore patrons of artists and artisans from all over the world. Through the purchase of these pieces, they make possible the economic autonomy and real freedom of other women.
Meet Our Founders
“To us, EMRA represents womanhood in the broadest and most global sense, a reflection of the feminine in all its forms. We founded this project because we share a deep desire to improve the conditions of women’s work, but more importantly, because it is something that truly fulfills us. It might seem selfish at first glance, but perhaps it’s a way of being ‘wise selfish’: finding our own well-being while contributing to the empowerment and well-being of other women.”
IXCHEL LEDESMA
Ixchel Ledesma (b. Mexico, 1988) is an independent curator and designer. Her topics of interest are the dialogue between art, craft, fashion and design with special emphasis on textile materiality and jewelry. Ledesma is interested in personal and collective searches that question binary concepts of gender and identity, proposing alternative models of power relations in the artistic field. She holds a Master’s degree from the Universidad Nacional Tres de Febrero (UNTREF), Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has carried out projects in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, United States, Spain, Chile, among others. She currently lives and works in Spain.
Meet Our Founders
“To us, EMRA represents womanhood in the broadest and most global sense, a reflection of the feminine in all its forms. We founded this project because we share a deep desire to improve the conditions of women’s work, but more importantly, because it is something that truly fulfills us. It might seem selfish at first glance, but perhaps it’s a way of being ‘wise selfish’: finding our own well-being while contributing to the empowerment and well-being of other women.”
ixchel ledesma
Ixchel Ledesma (b. Mexico, 1988) is an independent curator and designer. Her topics of interest are the dialogue between art, craft, fashion and design with special emphasis on textile materiality and jewelry. Ledesma is interested in personal and collective searches that question binary concepts of gender and identity, proposing alternative models of power relations in the artistic field. She holds a Master’s degree from the Universidad Nacional Tres de Febrero (UNTREF), Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has carried out projects in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, United States, Spain, Chile, among others. She currently lives and works in Spain.
LORENA ROSENDE
Lorena Rosende (Spain, 1978) is the co-founder of Emra. She is an Energy Engineer from the University of Vigo, holds a Master’s in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies from the same university, and a Master’s in Occupational Risk Prevention from the University of Santiago de Compostela. She is the CEO and co-founder of Merasys, a technology development company.
She was recognized as one of the leading women in the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem in 2020. Involved in gender-related projects from the start, she actively participates in and promotes youth mentoring programs for women.
LORENA ROSENDE
Lorena Rosende (Spain, 1978) is the co-founder of Emra. She is an Energy Engineer from the University of Vigo, holds a Master’s in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies from the same university, and a Master’s in Occupational Risk Prevention from the University of Santiago de Compostela. She is the CEO and co-founder of Merasys, a technology development company.
She was recognized as one of the leading women in the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem in 2020. Involved in gender-related projects from the start, she actively participates in and promotes youth mentoring programs for women.
Meet Our collaborators
LORETO MARTINEZ TRONCOSO
Born in Vigo in 1978; she currently lives and works in Porto and Paris. After attending the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Vigo, she moved in 1999 to the School of Fine Arts in Bordeaux and the National School of Fine Arts in Lyon, where she completed her studies. In the following years, she received several residency scholarships in cities such as Budapest, Hendaye, San Sebastián, León, Porto, and Paris.
Her notable exhibitions and actions include those held at Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers (Paris), Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), Arteleku (San Sebastián), and Fundação Serralves (Porto). She has also participated in group exhibitions such as Urbanitas (MARCO, Vigo, 2006), Arte e Investigación 07 (Montehermoso Cultural Center, Vitoria), and El medio es el museo (MARCO, Vigo / Koldo Mitxelena, San Sebastián, 2008).
Meet Our collaborators
LORETO MARTINEZ
Born in Vigo in 1978; she currently lives and works in Porto and Paris. After attending the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Vigo, she moved in 1999 to the School of Fine Arts in Bordeaux and the National School of Fine Arts in Lyon, where she completed her studies. In the following years, she received several residency scholarships in cities such as Budapest, Hendaye, San Sebastián, León, Porto, and Paris.
Her notable exhibitions and actions include those held at Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers (Paris), Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), Arteleku (San Sebastián), and Fundação Serralves (Porto). She has also participated in group exhibitions such as Urbanitas (MARCO, Vigo, 2006), Arte e Investigación 07 (Montehermoso Cultural Center, Vitoria), and El medio es el museo (MARCO, Vigo / Koldo Mitxelena, San Sebastián, 2008).
PABLA FIORELLA
Pabla Fiorella studied graphic design in Buenos Aires and, after graduating, worked as a designer in a transportation planning team. She grew up in Chaco, in northern Argentina, but has been living in Berlin for many years, where she has worked in both design and art direction, mostly on campaigns with political-social content or in the cultural field. Pabla also writes poetry and has begun working on her second novel.
She has over ten years of experience as a designer and art director in Argentina and Germany. She has a particular passion for social impact projects, where she can deliver sustainable and innovative design solutions.
Known for her diverse perspectives, she is dedicated to creating designs that genuinely benefit people.
pabla fiorella
Pabla Fiorella studied graphic design in Buenos Aires and, after graduating, worked as a designer in a transportation planning team. She grew up in Chaco, in northern Argentina, but has been living in Berlin for many years, where she has worked in both design and art direction, mostly on campaigns with political-social content or in the cultural field. Pabla also writes poetry and has begun working on her second novel.
She has over ten years of experience as a designer and art director in Argentina and Germany. She has a particular passion for social impact projects, where she can deliver sustainable and innovative design solutions.
Known for her diverse perspectives, she is dedicated to creating designs that genuinely benefit people.
LUCY SMITH
Born in the UK in 1997, she graduated from the University of Southampton with a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages. Her love for travel and languages soon brought her to Vigo, Spain, where she now works and resides. After working for two years as an English teacher, her current role is within the Commercial Department at MERASYS, as well as translating content for EMRA2EMRA.
lucy smith
Born in the UK in 1997, she graduated from the University of Southampton with a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages. Her love for travel and languages soon brought her to Vigo, Spain, where she now works and resides. After working for two years as an English teacher, her current role is within the Commercial Department at MERASYS, as well as translating content for EMRA2EMRA.
alejandra pombo
Born in Santiago de Compostela in 1979. Doctor in Fine Arts with a thesis on the paradoxes of the introduction of the notion of performance in contemporary art, her artistic work moves between the plastic arts, audiovisual and performance. He has won the prize of the I Call for Artistic Residencies FMJJ 2021 and has been chosen as an artist in residence at Bulegoa z/b (Bilbao), I-Park Foundation (Connecticut, USA), Atlantic Center for the Arts (Florida , USA), PACT-Zollverein (Essen, Germany), La Casa Encendida, the CA2M and the Ranchito in Matadero Madrid, among others. His work has been presented at different festivals, museums and art centers such as the Reina Sofía Museum, Fabra i Coats, La Casa Encendida or the MUSAC. Since 2021, he has been part of the NEG (Nova Escultura Galega) collective.
alejandra pombo
Born in Santiago de Compostela in 1979. Doctor in Fine Arts with a thesis on the paradoxes of the introduction of the notion of performance in contemporary art, her artistic work moves between the plastic arts, audiovisual and performance. He has won the prize of the I Call for Artistic Residencies FMJJ 2021 and has been chosen as an artist in residence at Bulegoa z/b (Bilbao), I-Park Foundation (Connecticut, USA), Atlantic Center for the Arts (Florida , USA), PACT-Zollverein (Essen, Germany), La Casa Encendida, the CA2M and the Ranchito in Matadero Madrid, among others. His work has been presented at different festivals, museums and art centers such as the Reina Sofía Museum, Fabra i Coats, La Casa Encendida or the MUSAC. Since 2021, he has been part of the NEG (Nova Escultura Galega) collective.
JUDITH ADATABERNA
Filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist Judith Adataberna has developed her imaginative world through experimental cinema, photography, and video installation. She studied Fine Arts and completed her studies with a scholarship from the experimental cinema laboratory Master-LAV (Madrid).
Raised by seafaring parents, she spent her entire childhood on an oyster raft, developing a deep observation of nature and its phenomenology. Her interest in psychology and the mysteries of consciousness has been crucial in formulating simulatory works that challenge scales and thresholds of perception. Her concern for survival mechanisms and technological evolution has led her to question humanity’s detachment from nature.
judith adataberna
Filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist Judith Adataberna has developed her imaginative world through experimental cinema, photography, and video installation. She studied Fine Arts and completed her studies with a scholarship from the experimental cinema laboratory Master-LAV (Madrid).
Raised by seafaring parents, she spent her entire childhood on an oyster raft, developing a deep observation of nature and its phenomenology. Her interest in psychology and the mysteries of consciousness has been crucial in formulating simulatory works that challenge scales and thresholds of perception. Her concern for survival mechanisms and technological evolution has led her to question humanity’s detachment from nature.
alejandra guillermo
Born in Guatemala in 1999, she graduated in Marketing and Advertising from Rafael Landívar University and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Intercontinental University of the Enterprise.
In Spain, she has gained extensive experience in various areas of marketing. She worked as an International Marketing intern for Nueva Pescanova, in customer service and sales for Enterprise Mobility and Intelcia, and as a content creator for Rosemberg Real Estate in Benidorm. Her most recent role focused on ICT and Digital Marketing consulting in the SmartPeme program of the Pontevedra Provincial Council. Currently, she manages marketing for EMRA2EMRA, overseeing the website and social media.
alejandra guillermo
Born in Guatemala in 1999, she graduated in Marketing and Advertising from Rafael Landívar University and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Intercontinental University of the Enterprise.
In Spain, she has gained extensive experience in various areas of marketing. She worked as an International Marketing intern for Nueva Pescanova, in customer service and sales for Enterprise Mobility and Intelcia, and as a content creator for Rosemberg Real Estate in Benidorm. Her most recent role focused on ICT and Digital Marketing consulting in the SmartPeme program of the Pontevedra Provincial Council. Currently, she manages marketing for EMRA2EMRA, overseeing the website and social media.